For the week ending October 2nd
PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER: Voting 397 for and five against, the House on Sept. 29 adopted a measure (H Res 1155) affirming “the orderly and peaceful transfer of power called for by the Constitution” if President Trump is voted out of office this year. This was a response to Trump’s repeated refusal to commit to relinquishing power on Jan. 20, 2021, should he lose the November election. The five negative votes were cast by Republicans Matt Gaetz of Florida, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Steve King of Iowa and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
A yes vote was to adopt the resolution.
YES: Deb Haaland, D-1, Xochitl Torres Small, D-2, Ben Ray Luján, D-3
CONDEMNING SURGICAL PROCEDURES ON IMMIGRANT WOMEN: Voting 226 for and 186 against, the House on Oct. 1 adopted a nonbinding condemnation (H Res 1153) of unwanted gynecological surgery allegedly performed in recent years on numerous women held for immigration offenses at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility is managed by the private firm LaSalle Corrections, and the operations reportedly were performed at a nearby hospital. The Department of Homeland Security inspector general recently opened an investigation of the allegations, which were raised in a nurse’s whistleblower complaint.
A yes vote was to adopt the resolution.
YES: Haaland, Torres Small, Luján
APPROVING $2.2 TRILLION FOR CORONAVIRUS RELIEF: Voting 214 for and 207 against, the House on Oct. 1 approved a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package (HR 925) that would authorize $600 per week in added jobless benefits through January and a second round of stimulus payments of $1,200 to individuals and $2,400 to families up to certain income levels, plus expanded child tax credits.
The bill also would provide, in part, $436 billion for state, local, tribal and territorial governments; $182 billion for K-12 schools; $120 billion for restaurants; $75 billion for coronavirus testing, tracing and isolation; $57 billion for child care centers; $50 billion for tenants’ rental assistance; $50 billion for hospitals serving poor communities; $50 billion in grants to small businesses; $39 billion for colleges and universities; $28.3 billion for airline payrolls; $28 billion for vaccine procurement, distribution and education; $21 billion in homeowner mortgage aid; $15 billion to sustain the Postal Service and $3.6 billion to boost ballot security and voter participation in this year’s elections.
The bill is a reduced version of the $3 trillion Heroes Act, which passed the House May 15 but stalled in the Senate. The House has now passed six virus relief bills since March 4, four of which have become law.
A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.
YES: Haaland, Luján
NO: Torres Small
HEALTH LAW BEFORE SUPREME COURT: Voting 51 for and 43 against, Senate on Oct. 1 turned back a Democratic attempt to end the Trump administration’s advocacy before the Supreme Court of litigation to strike down the Affordable Care Act. The bill (S 4653) needed 60 votes to advance. The court is scheduled to hear oral arguments Nov. 10 in the lawsuit Texas v. United States that would kill the 2010 health law, and the Department of Justice has filed a brief in support of the suit.
A yes vote was to end administration involvement in the repeal lawsuit.
YES: Tom Udall, D, Martin Heinrich, D
APPROVING STOPGAP FEDERAL BUDGET: Voting 84 for and 10 against, the Senate on Sept. 30 passed a bill (HR 8337) to fund the government on a stopgap basis in the opening weeks of fiscal 2021, which began Oct. 1. The bill, which became necessary when Congress failed to pass regular appropriations bills for the new budget year, will fund agencies at 2020 spending levels through Dec. 11.
A yes vote was to send the bill to President Trump.
YES: Udall, Heinrich
HOUSE Deb Haaland (D) Ben Ray Luján (D) Xochitl Torres Small (D)
SENATE Martin Heinrich (D) Tom Udall (D)
Contact your legislators at the U.S. Capitol
Zip codes: House 20515, Senate 20510
Capitol operator: (202) 224-3121